It can happen any time and anywhere: a major road closure, utility outage, or even a boil water advisory. As a government communicator, you must ask yourself: Am I prepared to communicate the necessary information out to all who need to hear it?
One impactful way to do this is to use Nextdoor for crisis communication. By leveraging its hyperlocal nature and built-in trust among neighbors, government communicators can effectively reach their targeted audience. Nextdoor is uniquely local in that it reaches people where they live about where they live.
Here’s a breakdown:
1. Targeted, Geo-Specific Alerts
Agencies can post updates that reach residents in specific neighborhoods or zip codes, ensuring location-relevant communication during wildfires, floods, chemical spills, or active shooter situations. This precision helps avoid unnecessary panic or confusion. They’re intended to be used for time-sensitive messages and when there is a threat to life and property. Neighbors are notified immediately the moment the message is posted.
2. Real-Time Information Sharing
Nextdoor allows real-time posting, so agencies can quickly share things like evacuation notices, shelter locations, road closures, and utility outages. What’s great about posting via Nextdoor is the audience is built-in. Every person using Nextdoor in a municipality’s jurisdiction can automatically see posts by public agencies – they do not need to “like” or “subscribe.” Public agencies can educate, encourage action, and measure behavioral change, with very little work on their end.
Did you know that you can publish directly from your Nextdoor agency page within Social News Desk? We’ll be talking all about it – and a lot more – at GSMCON in Orlando! Be sure to stop by our booth if you’ll be attending.
3. Two-Way Communication
Residents can respond to posts, ask questions, or report local hazards. This helps agencies monitor public sentiment, clarify misinformation, and adjust messaging as needed. As with any social network, two-way communication is key – but especially with Nextdoor. After all, it’s community-focused and all about local relevance.
4. Combating Misinformation
Agencies can provide verified information directly to residents, countering rumors or false narratives that might be circulating on other platforms. Nextdoor partners with local governments and other organizations to provide this verified information.
Over time, residents will learn to go to your agency for accurate, reliable information – and sharing it with others to see, as well.
Aside from users being able to flag posts they believe are false or misleading, Nextdoor also uses machine learning to find harmful or misleading content before it’s widely seen.
5. Localized Recovery Updates
After a crisis has run its course, agencies can use Nextdoor to:
- Share cleanup schedules
- Provide FEMA/disaster aid information
- Reconnect people with lost pets or property
While providing residents and others with timely updates during a crisis, it’s still important to call out key info afterwards as well. It strengthens the relationship between the neighbor and agency.
6. Building Trust Before Crises
By maintaining a consistent presence on Nextdoor (ex: public safety tips, community events), agencies build credibility that pays off when a crisis hits – and that’s ultimately what it’s all about.
Resources
Public Agencies with a Nextdoor account have access to a Resource Hub, where they can find content and infographics to repurpose. Nextdoor also maintains a Help Center and a Training Manual for public agencies with accounts.
If you want to take advantage of Nextdoor’s local audience and engage with your community, Social News Desk offers an easy way to do that. We’ll be talking about our Nextdoor integration – including publishing and listening – and a lot more at GSMCON 2025 in Orlando! Fill out a form to book a meeting with our team. We can’t wait to see you there!If you want to learn more about Nextdoor Agency Pages and Social News Desk, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@socialnewsdesk.com.
